We heard about Silicon Image's InstaPort fast HDMI switching tech back in July, and now it seems we're finally seeing implementation. Samsung has emerged as the first manufacturer to buy in, with its next-generation HDTVs to include the sub-second HDMI port switching functionality. Also, we're told that nine of the top ten TV makers are currently testing the product, which means they should be ready to roll by next year. Unfortunately, we're not clued in on what exact models will include the port / input processors, so here's hoping this means "all" Samsung sets.

[Via Digital Science]

We hate to admit it, but the longer we have to wait for something, the more anxious we get. So it should be no surprise that after nine months, we can't wait to check out Samsung's new Media Center Extender. We got word last week that the little guy was available for pre-order on Best Buy, but the lack of expected release date left us hanging. Now Amazon also has it available for pre-order, but this time with a release date of October 15th. That leaves just over two weeks before we can all find out if this thing is all it's cracked up to be -- you know, made to mount on the back of the latest Samsung TVs, and HDMI-CEC for seamless one remote operation.

We want to say that it has begun, but we're still thinking it's a touch early to suggest the $200 barrier is collapsing before our very eyes. Not even 24 hours after Sony's BDP-S300 fell to under $200 at Amazon, Samsung's respectable BD-P1500 has now done the same over at RadioShack. The $299.99 player becomes $199.99 instantly when added to one's cart, and according to the promotional fine print, the additional $100 off will be valid until September 27th. The real question is: will the "sale" be extended?

[Thanks, Shawn]

Update: The player has vanished from the website. Sold out, possibly?

Hey, Sammy -- bet you thought we forgot about that little MediaLive Digital Media Adapter of yours, huh? For everyone that had, let us bring you back up to speed. After launching under a different name at CES 2008, this puppy was officially revealed in the summer. Unfortunately, the supposed August ship date has come and gone, and it doesn't seem like too many folks are up in arms about it. Nevertheless, the obviously delayed Media Center Extender has finally found itself a holding page over at Best Buy, where's it's listed in detail for $199.99. The "Coming Soon" bit doesn't really give us much to go on, but we'd suspect Samsung would want to get this out before the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear. Now would also be a wonderful time to shave $50+ off of the MSRP in order to make folks care once more -- just sayin', is all.

[Thanks, Lindsay]

Samsung's duo of LED-backlit 9 Series LCDs looked mighty delicious on paper, and based on a recent review from CNET, it's just as succulent in real life. The 46-inch HDTV produced the deepest black levels of any LCD reviewers had ever seen, extremely accurate color and an overall feeling of excitement while watching. Further praise was bestowed upon the solid video processing, wide range of picture controls, nice port selection and the attractive design. The biggest knock on this fellow was the staggeringly high price tag ($3,199.99), but if money ain't a thang, you've probably just stumbled upon a winner.

[Thanks, Nate]

We aren't self-proclaimed 1337 Linux hackers or anything, so we didn't exactly check on the hackability of Samsung's LN52A650 when we had it in for review. One fearwall has apparently figured out that there's more than meets the eye with this set, though, as he points out that the latest firmware is Linux-based and can "easily" be hacked for all sorts of fun. Interested in custom bitmaps, sounds and text strings? Hit up the read link and try to make sense of it, then.

[Thanks, Caesar]

Samsung and Sony are celebrating (with their new displays no doubt) a 1-2 finish in iSuppli's second quarter LCD TV sales report. Vizio's slipped from the number one spot last year, to behind Philips, Sharp and LG, respectively, accounting for only 6 percent of the market. According to iSuppli's analysts, major name brands moving aggressively into smaller sizes and budget retailers like Wal-mart is squeezing the smaller Taiwanese competition out of the picture. Vizio bust onto the scene with extraordinary deals on flat screens, at this point does it become an also-ran as its principal supplier hooks up with the big names, or (we hope) is there at least one more hurrah coming Black Friday?

Rumors of Samsung's BD-Live-ready BD-P2500 Blu-ray player first started cropping up a few months ago, and the strikingly similar BD-P2550 just slipped out at Best Buy a few days ago, but if you like your Blu-ray news all official like, you'll be glad to know that Samsung has now finally actually talking about the player, and it's set to show it off at the big IFA show later this week. In addition to BD-Live support (which will apparently come in a future update), Samsung also confirms that the player packs the always-desirable Silicon Optix HQV video processing chip, and support for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD in addition to the usual non-HD formats. No firm word on a price just yet, but you can look for the official launch to happen in September. If that Best Buy slip is any indication, however, it seems likely that they could start showing up even sooner than that.

Samsung's Series 7 / 8 / 9 plasmas and LCDs have broken cover already in Europe or North America, including the slim PAVV Bordeaux 850 (pictured), but Asia gets first crack at the latest iteration of the company's local dimming LED backlighting tech trickling down into the 40-inch LCD size range. Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology, 1080p, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratios are a must, while also substituting direct YouTube access for the U.S. version's USA Today-powered InfoLink RSS service. No word on the prices the newly expanded Bordeaux line, but we're more interested in how soon the latest in backlighting technology is moving downmarket.

Update: Not first, just new, although that shouldn't sate our appetite for a future LN40A950 one bit. [Thanks to all for pointing that out]

Don't fear, Canadians -- Samsung's freshly announced Series 8 and Series 9 HDTVs are coming your way, too. Specs wise, everything is looking the same, though the pricing is expectedly higher. In the US, the 46-inch LN46A850 is going for $2,699.99, while Canucks will be asked to hand over $3,199.99; the 52-inch LN52A850 sells for $3,399.99 in America, yet it'll go for $3,799.99 in the Great North. As for the 9 Series? Try an $800 premium on the 46-inch LN46A950 ($3,999.99) and the 55-inch LN55A950 ($4,999.99). Feel the pain this September.

Read - Series 8 bypasses security, enters Canada
Read - Series 9 gains passport, cleared for Canadian entry

Despite the weakening economy here in the US and elsewhere, people are -- as predicted -- still showing interest in HDTV. Shortly after seeing what a nice Q2 the plasma sector had, DisplaySearch has revealed that TV shipments in general were way, way up in said quarter. In fact, North America saw the biggest year-over-year increase (28%) since the outfit started tracking TV shipments in 2004; then there's the 26% quarter-over-quarter growth, which is equally impressive. LCD TV shipments rose 52% compared to last year while PDP shipments shot up 34% in the same period, and it's safe to say that Samsung has the most to gloat about. It was the leading overall brand with shipments of its sets surging to a record 19.1% of all shipments in North America during Q2. Anxious to see who took the proverbial silver / bronze? Check out all of the stats in the read link below.

We've witnessed a few lawsuits related to Blu-ray, but this is the first one we can recall that perfectly fits the "patent troll" mold. The Patent Prospector has it that Acacia subsidiary Digital Security Systems is suing a smorgasbord of big BD players for infringing on a patent that it has held for years. Defendants named include Samsung, Best Buy, Denon, Funai, LG, Matsushita, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, and Sharp, though details beyond that are sadly scant. Oh, and if you're wondering where the complaint was filed, it was in the infamous Eastern District of Texas.

[Via FormatWarCentral]